UK Football

By Mike Collett

LONDON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Everton manager David Moyes committed himself to the club until 2013 when he signed a new five-year contract on Tuesday.

The 45-year-old Scot, who has been Everton's manager since March 2002, told the club's website (www.evertonfc.com): "The big thing for me is that I am at Everton, as far as I am concerned, for another five years and the job is to make us better than we have been.

"I am really excited and really pleased. I am pleased for everybody -- I'm pleased for myself and my family who were desperate to get it signed and secured and it is always what I wanted to do."

Moyes revealed on Sunday he had decided to remain with the club despite admitting he had been considering his options earlier in the year.

He told the News of the World and the Sunday Express at the weekend that after hearing former England manager Bobby Robson give a speech in July extolling the virtues of staying with one club for as long as possible, he made up his mind to remain with Everton.

Moyes is behind only Manchester United's Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger of Arsenal as the longest-serving manager of those working in the Premier League.

His decision to sign comes despite Everton making a poor start to the season. They are 15th in the Premier League and have gone six matches without a win in any competition. They are without a home win and were eliminated from the UEFA Cup by Belgian club Standard Liege before the group phase.

Moyes has said that uncertainty over his future had affected his team's start and his first task now will be to take something from Saturday's visit to Arsenal.